Who Needs Yet Another CAD Viewer?

Every product engineering team needs the ability to quickly and easily communicate 3D design data and 2D drawings not only among core team members, but also with manufacturing, engineering, suppliers, service operations and other participants in the extended value chain. Effective information sharing streamlines and improves collaboration and facilitates better and faster decision making within the enterprise and through the extended supply chain.

We often discuss CAD viewers and similar data access tools in the context of “data democratization”: the need to “free” precious data locked in a product data management (PDM) system, a product lifecycle management (PLM) system, or another type of file system for which one needs a specialized, often complex and usually expensive software.

Although practically all CAD and PLM software packages include a free 3D viewer, these viewers are typically attached to and enterprise software license: only authorized users can use them. Consequently, 3D viewers are not available outside the engineering team because the full license is too expensive, and, besides, why would a non-engineer need CAD license anyway? Read More

IoT Industry Snapshot and Predictions

The industrial Internet of Things community is finally beginning to sober up from the bacchanalia of counting connected IoT devices and terabytes of cloud data storage that has dominated the IoT narrative for too long.

IoT platform vendors and consultants are shifting their focus from the lower rung of the IoT technology stack that focuses on device connectivity to the other end of the stack, to technologies that provide meaningful business value: multidisciplinary data aggregation, complex data analytics and higher capacity for optimal decision-making.

Robust articulation of the business value of industrial IoT has been absent from much of the narrative, in the vein of “if you build it, they will come.” Many IoT platform vendors provide tools to draw snazzy dashboards, plot complex data graphs and display virtual gauges. But their data analytics tools are not as robust and trending and predictive capabilities are over optimistic. And the recent rush to add statistical analysis tools (often linear regression tools masqueraded as artificial intelligence and machine learning) will face real-world challenges of data biases, inconsistency and scale. Read More

You are undoubtedly aware of Israel’s auto-tech boom. Seemingly overnight, Israel has become an automotive technology powerhouse, developing technologies for self-driving cars and forming ties with the world’s industry leaders.

While the headline-grabbing acquisitions of Waze by Google in 2013 and MobilEye by Intel a little over a year ago are well known, scores of Israeli automotive technology companies are experiencing fast growth and are attracting global automakers that are setting up research centers in Israel, scouting for local talent, and investing in and acquiring promising technology companies. Read More

The Impact of Vehicle Electrification and Connectivity on Electrical System Design

Industry in Flux

Just over 100 years ago, Henry Ford disrupted the auto industry of the time with the introduction of the mass-production moving assembly line. To say that the auto industry is again in flux is almost cliché.

The confluence of technology and business trends in play is having a profound effect on the future of the mobility industry.

Electrification

Electric propulsion is still in its infancy. Today, less than 5% of vehicles sold in the US use electric propulsion. But consumers recognize the impact of EVs on the environmental. With the introduction of EVs with greater travel range and more affordable purchase price, adoption will accelerate. A survey from AAA shows that 20% of drivers want an electric vehicle and will likely choose an EV for their next vehicle, up from 15% percent in 2017.

Autonomous Driving

The race to achieve fully automated driving is heating up rapidly. Despite many uncertainties concerning technology maturity, regulatory requirements, and market adoption, practically all automakers and major suppliers, as well as scores of small upstart companies, want to take part in this race.

The hope to capitalize on the early waves of commercialization and consumer adoption, and the accompanying boost to the brand lead to an increase of 33% over 5 years in R&D in the automotive sector.

Connectivity

Today’s consumers demand connectivity, sophisticated mobile apps and rich online content. An Autotrader study shows that connectivity has become a major factor in car buying decision, and that 48% of car buyers prioritize in-vehicle technology over brand or body style.

OEMs are now shifting in this direction, adding connectivity and in-vehicle features across their portfolio, including non-premium brands in an effort to better align their offering with the changing market demand, especially of millennial consumers. Read More

What is the Connected Car Challenge?

The Connected Car Challenge is an open innovation competition. Participants—small, early-stage startup companies and individuals—propose, build and demonstrate an innovative connected-vehicle device, system, or application that demonstrates how vehicle connectivity can contribute to changing and improving mobility, quality of life of individuals and communities, and the environment.

The motivation to hold the Connected Car Challenge is obvious. The auto industry is undergoing massive changes that will continue to shape its future for many years to come. More than ever before, technology and business innovation are coming not from the R&D and engineering department of traditional automakers and suppliers but from new entrants into the space. And while nontraditional megacompanies such as Intel, NVIDIA, and Google are driving much of the conversation, still much comes from small startups and even individuals. Nearly everyone is familiar with the mega-acquisition of Mobileye by Intel, but this is but one—albeit an exceptionally significant one—of many more to come. Read More